Executive Search - THE TECHNOLOGY sector in China

The technology sector is undergoing a radical and fast change as a result of opportunities afforded by the impact of new technology, which results in business models revolutionizing consumer
and business-to-business interactions. Convergence between content organizations and technology providers is blurring traditional industry lines. Both large established companies and fast-growing
new market entrants need professionals with learning agility and the ability to deal with a complex and rapidly evolving market environment.

Our Technology practice focuses on helping companies attract, develop, and
retain best-in-class executives in China and provides insight into industry-specific talent trends. Ginkgo Search Partners understands the shifting needs of the brightest talent available on
the Chinese market as well as the importance of making sure that your business has the right management to lead it through turbulent change. To ensure that companies have candidates who meet
their needs and cultures our executive search consultants offer specialized expertise within a variety of technology
segments.

We assist our multinational clientswith recruiting the most senior management professionals such as Chief Information Officer (CIO) and
Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to enhance their leadership capabilities in China. Besides we have a solid trackrecord in
recruiting for various senior expert and management positions such as Vice President IT Infrastructure, Director of Technology, Head of Software Development, software &cloudarchitects,cybersecurityconsultants,blockchainexperts, and various other
sector-specific roles. Our executive search competencies within the technology sector are focusing onsoftware,digital,blockchain,artificialintelligence (AI),cybersecurity, and theinternet ofthings (IoT).

Executive Recruitment - Areas of expertise

Software

Chinese businesses only spend half of what their peers in other markets spend on technology as a percentage of revenue, which has held back the development of the enterprise software
market in China. But the market is evolving and spending is increasing as corporations seek to digitize their business models and increase operating efficiencies.

Chinese corporations are willing to invest in software where the benefit to the business is ongoing and there is real value in having access to the current iteration of software or a
database that it accesses. Chinese firms are looking into applications that enable them to establish a closer interaction with their customers and achieve greater efficiency in their
internal operations. There has never been a more exciting time to experience the shift in consumer behaviour and participate in the business opportunities of a rapidly transforming
software landscape in China.

Our executive recruiters provide our clients with a competitive edge on the Chinese talent market. Our deep understanding of the dynamics of the technology sector and truly
international reach help us provide executive search and leadership solutions across the entire range of senior management up to C-suite appointments. The strength of our executive
search firm lies in helping clients to recruit transformative leaders who can advance their organizations to new levels.

Digital

China has become a leading player in the digital economy at home and around the world. The country is accountable for 42 percent of global e-commerce and processes 11-times more
mobile payments compared to the United States. As digital forces change the status quo an even more internationally competitive Chinese economy and dynamic firms can emerge.

The rapidly transforming landscape in the digital space in China means that many of the traditional talent markers of career path and age no longer apply. Indeed, many members of the
current wave of digital pioneers have little to no experience in the industries they are disrupting. While this may make innovation easier, it makes evaluating and developing talent,
identifying gaps, and designing the right roles and organizational structure more critical than ever before.

At Ginkgo Search Partners our Technology practice provides both digital and legacy companies with executive search and leadership solutions to harness disruption. Our executive
recruiters have served some of the most prestigious international corporations operating in China, questioning assumptions and developing creative talent solutions, whether that
entails executive search or leadership assessment. Our executive search consultants work closely with you to find and develop the leaders who can transform organizations.

Blockchain

At Ginkgo Search Partners we have developed true executive search expertise in the evolving field of blockchain technology. Technology experts and business professionals are
diligently working to harness the underlying capabilities of the distributed ledger to address operational issues such as customer identity, transaction clearing, and chain of
custody. Such cases of use extend well beyond the market’s obsession with valuations of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. These efforts require new perspectives and access to a
scarce pool of talent.

Along with quantum communication, AI, and autonomous driving, blockchain was recognized as a major area of development by the Chinese government in the latest 5-year-plan. Chinese
banks embrace the potential of the emerging technology and are hiring blockchain experts to increase transparency and combat fraud in the financial sector. As a result demand from
Chinese banks for blockchain professionals more than doubled in 2016 and shows no sign of slowing, as lenders scramble to catch up with their Western counterparts that have already
heavily invested in the technology. The competition for blockchain talent in China is fierce, resulting in banks and executive recruiters luring tech startup executives with
50-percent payrises.

Our executive search consultants provide deep market knowledge and a robust industry network to address such rapidly evolving field. Our consultants are well versed in the underlying
technology of blockchain to identify and attract the best emerging talent across China and around the globe. We welcome the chance to partner with you and provide your organization
with top expert and leadership talent to succeed in this highly competitive sector.

Artifical intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is based on the idea that computer systems can perform functions typically associated with the human mind. Computer scientists have achieved significant
technological breakthroughs in artificial intelligence with advances in data collection and aggregation, algorithms, and processing power. The applications are diverse and the
adoption of the new technology is growing rapidly in sectors such as finance, manufacturing, and healthcare.

AI technologies can dramatically boost productivity and will have a disruptive impact on China’s potential for economic growth. With its biggest tech companies driving significant
investments in Research and Development China has emerged as a leading global hub of AI development. To stay competitive in this evolving sector China will need to focus on enhancing
its innovation capacity, ensure that education and training systems are up to the challenge, and systematically strengthen its pipeline of specialized AI talent.

At Ginkgo Search Partners we are aware of the global nature of the talent pool and therefore leverage the full potential of our international network in discovering exceptional expert
and management talent that can have a significant impact on businesses of all sizes across every industry sector. Our executive recruiters’ experience in guiding global businesses in
China through digital transformation makes us uniquely positioned to deliver unparalleled AI executive search services. Our partnerships with China’s artificial intelligence industry
leaders places us at the nexus of transformation and talent to help your business make the most of this new opportunity.

Cybersecurity

Recruitment of cybersecurity talent addresses a huge challenge for businesses in China. Cybersecurity executives and experts are in short supply as the country with more than 751
million netizens only produces around 8,000 cybersecurity graduates every year. China is in urgent need of such talent, and the cybersecurity workforce gap is expected to surge to 1.4
million by 2020 based on estimates from experts and organizations. China can catch up with Western nations’ cybersecurity protection by buying and learning their products and
technologies, leading to an enormous market potential for international firms that want to offer their security solutions in the nation and benefit from the huge market
potential.

Our executive recruiters help multinational organizations in China to evaluate the structure of their cybersecurity function, build teams with the right set of competencies, and
recruit leaders who possess the ability to balance security requirements with business objectives. Ginkgo Search Partners helps define the position specifications and develop
tailor-made career paths that increase talent retention and build high performing information security teams. We closely partner with traditional companies and international
fast-growing cybersecurity startups that want to venture into the Chinese market or expand their existing presence by assisting them to identify, assess, and develop leaders who can
help them scale their businesses in China.

The Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) has received enormous attention. Capturing the maximal benefits of the new technology will require profound understanding of where real value can be
created and successfully addressing a set of systems issues, including interoperability. To leverage the full potential of IoT applications technology will need to continue to
advance, providing more robust data analytics and lower costs. In almost all settings IoT systems raise questions about data security and concerns over data privacy. Taking advantage
of the IoT opportunity will require leaders to truly embrace data-driven decision making and who are able to build data relationships across multiple ecosystems, from supply chain
through manufacturing to the customer experience.

Our Technology practice at Ginkgo Search Partners is composed of executive search consultants with a generalist approach and the experience to work across other areas including
industrial, supply chain, and services. Our executive recruiters offer a range of experience and networks to help organizations successfully work through a connectivity
transformation. Ginkgo Search Partners works in close cooperation with key decision makers to solve their unique leadership challenges and design organizational structures that allow
IoT executives to work collaboratively across functions. We look forward to unleashing your company's full potential and partnering with you on this journey.

Contact our specialized executive recruiters

Case Study

General Manager Search - International IT Firm in China

Ginkgo Search Partners Technology Practice
Group has successfully concluded an executive search mandate to find and recruit a seasoned executive to be the General Manager in China.

Our retained client is a leading independent software vendor which is a pioneer and world leader in software analysis and measurement and serves IT-intensive Global 2000 enterprises and public
sector institutions worldwide.

Position requirements

The executive search assignment presented huge challenges which included finding a well-credentialed Chinese IT executive in a narrow executive talent market. We were searching for a
sales-driven IT leader with deep relationships within the Chinese business community, knowledge of the Chinese market, and proven track record developing new business within the Greater China
area.

The General Manager China was required to be an experienced IT Executive with a background from a leading international or local IT firm with an established presence in China. The candidate was
expected to have profound understanding of the Chinese market combined with strong leadership qualities, soft skills, and high development potential.

Executive search approach

The major challenge was that our client's offering are complex software solutions that are new and unique to the Chinese market. Potential customers need to be educated about the advantages of
the IT solutions through a targeted and consultative sales approach. The sales cycles are comparatively long and rely on deep and trusted C-level relationships with large Chinese
corporations in the banking and telecommunications sector.

The candidates were primarily sourced from enterprise software, international IT consulting firms, large system integrators, and fast-growing IT startups. Our prior geographical focus was on
Beijing's CBD area and Zhongguancun in the north of Beijing, which is one of China's most prominent tech clusters. Several candidates were shortlisted by our executive search consultant to meet
our client's global CEO for the final interview round in Beijing.

Successful placement

The successful candidate is a Chinese IT leader with more than 20 years of experience in the industry who has previously worked as a regional business head for a globally leading financial
software and services firm. He was in charge of the business operations of the company in China with full P&L responsibility.

Our candidate was attracted by our client’s solid product and service offering in a highly complex IT niche which is new to the Chinese market. The entrepreneurial nature and scope of the
position were crucial factors for his motivation to join our client's organization. Both parties expressed appreciation for the result as well as the search process leading to it.

Related Insights

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